"Reborn" to Be Alive! - Image Comics Hit Goes Back to Press

REBORN A SMASH HIT

The new series from Millar and Capullo rushed back to print on day of release

“An absolute gem: the most fun debut of 2016. Make room in your buy pile for this one. You won’t regret it.” —Flickering Myth

Image Comics is pleased to announce that the highly anticipated new series REBORN by Mark Millar (HUCK, Kingsman: The Secret Service) and Greg Capullo (Batman) which launched today is being rushed back to print immediately to keep up with the overwhelming customer demand.

REBORN explores a jaw-dropping world of possibility in a sprawling, science-fiction/fantasy epic that readers won’t want to miss out on. Where do you go when you die? Not heaven or hell; somewhere else. Somewhere you have to fight to survive. Somewhere the people from the past are waiting for you—the good and the bad.

REBORN #1 remains available for purchase across all digital platforms, including the Image Comics website (imagecomics.com), the official Image Comics iOS app, Comixology’s website (comixology.com), iOS, Android, and Google Play.

REBORN #1, 2nd printing (Diamond Code AUG169429) and REBORN #2 Cover A-E will be available on Wednesday, November 16th, 2016. The final order cutoff for retailers is Monday, October 24th, 2016.

Advance praise for REBORN #1:

“Delivered what I had hoped to see on Batman with Reborn. It was exactly what I wanted to see previously, but here it was on a new title… If his Batman looked like this, I would wait the extra time in-between arcs just to see his art… His art shines on this issue from the mundane to the extreme fantasy elements.” —Comic Bastards

“This is masterful storytelling.” —AiPT!

“Reborn #1 is like the methed-out love child of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Frank Frazetta. An epic tale of sci-fi and fantasy with an emotional core that packs a wallop… an absolute gem: the most fun debut of 2016. Make room in your buy pile for this one. You won’t regret it.” —Flickering Myth

“When a Mark Millar-penned comic comes out, you can bet a movie adaption won’t be far behind… But the number one thing to get excited about is that Batman artist Greg Capullo is bringing Reborn to life. We’ve watched him pump out one stylish, hard-hitting Batman comic after another for the past five years, and now we’re ready to watch him unleash his talent on a wholly original concept with Millar.” —IGN


ABOUT IMAGE COMICS
Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, fantasy, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.

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Jim Steranko, Roy Thomas Among Comic Book Legends Headed to 2016 Paradise City Comic Con

Paradise City Comic Con Brings Legendary Comic Book Creators

Fort Lauderdale, FL -- Nerds in Paradise, that’s the theme of Paradise City Comic Con to be held December 9-10-11, 2016 in Fort Lauderdale. It’s a throwback to Revenge of the Nerds II which was filmed in Fort Lauderdale and released in 1987.

This comic con has been in Miami for 2 years under the name Magic City Comic Con. “We called this event Magic City Comic Con when it was in Miami, but we felt like it needed an identity more fitting of Fort Lauderdale Beach with our move to the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center,” Founder and President Mike Broder said of the move. “Perhaps it’s because I grew up as a nerd in the 80s, but Paradise City just seemed to stick.”

While Paradise City Comic Con will also feature top name celebrities, Broder said he is most excited about the comic book lineup scheduled for this event. “Some of the most legendary comic book artists of all time will be at Paradise City to meet with fans and talk about how they brought these characters to life. In those meetups, fans can get an autograph and turn their favorite story into a lifelong treasure.”

Jim STERANKO
Jim STERANKO will make his first South Florida convention appearance at Paradise City Comic Con. STERANKO is a legendary illustrator, musician, art director, magician, fire-eater, designer, escape artist, filmmaker, pop-culture lecturer, and publisher, best known to fans for his work on Captain America, Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and The X-Men.

Returning comic legends include Neal Adams, Allen Bellman, José Delbo, Mike Grell, Bob Layton, George Pérez, and Roy Thomas. Each of these artists played an important part in molding superheroes into the characters we love on the big screen today. Bob Layton, for example, created the story of Iron Man that the movies are based on, and he was a consultant for the movies. Roy Thomas was the editor in chief of Marvel Comics while Stan Lee was the publisher in the 1970s and played a crucial role in shaping all of Marvel’s characters during that time.

Jeff Dekal
Paradise City Comic Con will also feature prominent modern comic artists such as Mark Bagley, Robby Rodriguez, Tim Seeley, and Broward County’s very own Jeff Dekal who is currently painting some of the most dynamic covers for Marvel Comics. Dekal was discovered by Marvel Comics at Florida Supercon in 2013.


About Paradise City Comic Con
Paradise City Comic Con is produced by Super Conventions, the team that also organizes Florida Supercon, Raleigh Supercon and Animate Florida. It's a 3 day festival featuring celebrity guests, comic book creators, voice actors, industry guests, cosplayers, artists, writers, panels, Q&A’s, films & shorts, costume & cosplay contests, vendors, parties, anime, workshops, video gaming and more! Paradise City Comic Con is expected to draw 19,000 attendees.

Convention Event Hours and Agenda
Paradise City Comic Con will take place at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.

Convention Event Hours / Exhibition Room Hours:
Friday, 12:00PM – 1:00AM / 12:00PM – 8:00PM
Saturday, 10:00AM – 2:00AM / 10:00AM – 8:00PM
Sunday, 10:00AM – 8:00PM / 10:00AM – 6:30PM

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Erykah Badu to Host "Soul Train Awards 2016"

The Godmother of Soul, Erykah Badu, to Take the Vegas Stage as Returning Host of SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016

Drake Dominates with 12 Nominations Followed by Fellow Hitmakers Beyoncé, Rihanna and Bryson Tiller

Multi-Platinum and Three-Time Grammy Award-Winning Producer, Singer, Songwriter Edward Theodore "Teddy" Riley to Receive the Legend Award

Grammy Award-Winning, Multi-Platinum Singer Brandy to be Honored with Second Annual Lady of Soul Award

Soul Train Awards to Air on Centric and BET, November 27th at 8PM ET

#SoulTrainAwards

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CENTRIC announced the everlasting godmother of soul, Erykah Badu, will return to host the SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016. The four-time Grammy Award-winning soul singer and songwriter will once again take over the Vegas stage with her eccentric style, cerebral music, incomparable spirit and comedic commentary. The yearly celebration will honor the best in Soul and R&B from returning legends to the next generation. Filmed November 6, 2016 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016 will air on CENTRIC and BET on November 27th, 2016 at 8PM ET.

CENTRIC also announced the all-star nominees they will honor at the SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016 across 12 different categories. Drake leads the pack with 12 total nominations including two nominations for the highly coveted Video of the Year Award for his feature on Rihanna’s single “Work” and this year’s mega hit “Hotline Bling.” Beyoncé follows with 8 nominations including Best R&B/Soul Female Artist, Album/Mixtape of the Year for her groundbreaking album “Lemonade,” and multiple honors for lead single “Formation” including Song of the Year, Best Dance Performance and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award. Rihanna, Kanye West, DJ Khaled and Usher also received multiple nominations this year including Video of the Year, Album/Mixtape of the Year and Best Collaboration. The next generation of soul is also being recognized, including Bryson Tiller, Chance the Rapper and Anderson .Paak who are multi-nominees across categories including Best New Artist, Best R&B/Soul Male Artist and the Rhythm & Bars Award (Formerly Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year.)

Multi-platinum and three-time Grammy Award-winning producer, singer-songwriter, artist, musician and technology expert Edward Theodore "Teddy" Riley, also known as the creator and king of New Jack Swing, is set to receive the coveted Legend Award. His major accolade was Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous LP” which sold over 32 million copies worldwide. Riley produced number one hits for countless icons which have governed the airways for decades. As a founding member of the multi-platinum Grammy-winning group Blackstreet and a member of the group Guy, which became a multi-platinum group, Riley's New Jack Swing sound was the epic lifeline that forever changed the design for R&B and Hip-Hop music. He is the first African-American producer to bring Korean Pop (K-Pop) music to the USA and has been producing number one hits on Billboard charts for nearly a decade.

The 2nd annual Lady of Soul Award will be presented to singer-songwriter and actress Brandy. The platinum selling artist and actress has sold over 40 million records and received numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award, one American Music Award, and seven Billboard Music Awards. Last year’s inaugural Lady of Soul Award went to R&B torchbearer Jill Scott. Both Brandy and Teddy Riley are being recognized for their longstanding presence in the music industry and influence on the world of soul and R&B music past and present.

The SOUL TRAIN AWARDS will feature an exhilarating lineup of memorable performances and viewers can expect special appearances by some of the brightest stars in entertainment. The event annually showcases Soul Train’s impact on the history of music and dance from the 70s to today.

The party doesn’t stop there; visitors can also look forward to the entire SOUL TRAIN WEEKEND November 3-6. Kicking off Thursday, and taking over Mandalay Bay, the celebration will feature soulful experiences including performances by Jill Scott, Tyrese, Monica, Anthony Hamilton, Jazmine Sullivan, Bell Biv DeVoe, Yuna, Tish Hyman, Kid Capri and a special night of comedy with the cast of BET’s The Comedy Get Down with Cedric 'The Entertainer,’ D.L. Hughley, George Lopez, Eddie Griffin and Charlie Murphy.

Soul Train Weekend VIP Packages are available for purchase and offer exclusive access, premium seats to all concerts and events, plus VIP status to unforgettable after-parties. Four Day ticket packages are also available and will allow guests to have the convenience and access to attend great concerts throughout Soul Train Awards Weekend. VIP and four day package and amenities and pricing can be found at Soultrainweekend.com.

Want to cover the SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016 red carpet? Head to www.betpressroom.com now and complete the application!

The SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016 is produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment. Executive Producers of the network telecast are as follows: Debra Lee, Stephen Hill and Connie Orlando from BET; and Jesse Collins from Jesse Collins Entertainment.

For show information, please visit BET.com/SoulTrain, the official site for SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016.

The complete list of nominees for SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016 are:

Best New Artist
ANDERSON .PAAK
ANDRA DAY
BRYSON TILLER
CHANCE THE RAPPER
RO JAMES
TORY LANEZ

Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
ANTHONY HAMILTON
BRYSON TILLER
MAXWELL
THE WEEKND
USHER

Centric Certified Award
AFTER 7
ANDERSON .PAAK
BILAL
LALAH HATHAWAY
MUSIQ SOULCHILD

Video of the Year
BEYONCÉ - FORMATION
BEYONCÉ - SORRY
DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING
KANYE WEST - FADE
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK

Best Gospel/ Inspirational Song
DONNIE MCCLURKIN - I NEED YOU
HEZEKIAH WALKER - BETTER
KIRK FRANKLIN - 123 VICTORY
TAMELA MANN - GOD PROVIDES
TRAVIS GREENE - MADE A WAY

Album/Mixtape of the Year
BEYONCÉ - LEMONADE
BRYSON TILLER - T R A P S O U L
DJ KHALED - MAJOR KEY
DRAKE - VIEWS
KANYE WEST - THE LIFE OF PABLO
RIHANNA - ANTI

Rhythm & Bars Award (Formerly Best Hip-Hop Song of the Year)
CHANCE THE RAPPER FT. LIL WAYNE & 2 CHAINZ - NO PROBLEM
DJ KHALED FT. DRAKE - FOR FREE
DRAKE - CONTROLLA
DRAKE FT. WIZKID & KYLA - ONE DANCE
FAT JOE & REMY MA FT. FRENCH MONTANA & INFARED - ALL THE WAY UP

Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
ALICIA KEYS
BEYONCÉ
FANTASIA
JILL SCOTT
RIHANNA

Song of the Year
ADELE - HELLO
BEYONCÉ - FORMATION
BRYSON TILLER - DON’T
DRAKE - CONTROLLA
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK

The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award

• HELLO – WRITTEN BY: ADELE LAURIE BLUE ADKINS, GREGORY ALLEN KURSTIN (ADELE)
• RISE UP – WRITTEN BY: ANDRA DAY, JENNIFER DECILVEO (ANDRA DAY)
• FORMATION – WRITTEN BY: MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS II, BEYONCÉ KNOWLES, KHALIF BROWN, AAQUIL BROWN, ASHETON HOGAN, (BEYONCÉ)
• DON’T – WRITTEN BY: JOHNTÁ M. AUSTIN, MARIAH CAREY, BRYAN-MICHAEL COX, JERMAINE DUPRI, TAVORIS JAVON HOLLINS, ISOM BRANDON STEWART, BRYSON DEJUAN TILLER (BRYSON TILLER)
• NEEDED ME – WRITTEN BY: NICHOLAS VALENTINO AUDINO, RACHEL DERRUS, ADAM KING FEENEY, ROBYN R. FENTY, BRITTANY TALIA HAZZARD, CHARLES HINSHAW JR., LEWIS BERESFORD HUGHES, DIJON ISAIAH MCFARLANE, KHALED ROHAIM, TE WHITI TE RANGITEPAIA MATAA WARBICK (RIHANNA)

Best Dance Performance
BEYONCÉ - FORMATION
DRAKE - HOTLINE BLING
KANYE WEST (DANCE PERFORMANCE FT. TEYANA TAYLOR) - FADE
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK
USHER FT. YOUNG THUG - NO LIMIT

Best Collaboration
BEYONCÉ FT. KENDRICK LAMAR - FREEDOM
CHANCE THE RAPPER FT. LIL WAYNE & 2 CHAINZ - NO PROBLEM
DJ KHALED FT. DRAKE - FOR FREE
FAT JOE & REMY MA FT. FRENCH MONTANA & INFARED - ALL THE WAY UP
RIHANNA FT. DRAKE - WORK


About CENTRIC
Centric is the only multi-platform lifestyle brand designed to boldly celebrate the diverse and beautiful world of Black women. A 24-hour music and entertainment channel, Centric has its finger on the pulse of an ever-changing beat and delivers compelling content that reflects, inspires and addresses the unique perspectives of Black women.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

About Soul Train Holdings
SOUL TRAIN HOLDINGS, LLC was formed in May 2008 and is owned by InterMedia Partners and a partnership between Magic Johnson Enterprises and Ron Burkle's investment firm, The Yucaipa Companies. The iconic franchise and catalog consists of more than 1,100 episodes and 40 specials from Don Cornelius Productions, Inc. Soul Train is the longest running, first-run, nationally syndicated music program in television history. During its 35-year run, the show featured lasting innovations such as the Soul Train line and the legendary sign off “Love, Peace and Soul.” At the heart of the show was Don Cornelius, the dancers and influential artists such as James Brown, Al Green, Ike & Tina Turner, Hall & Oates, Donna Summer, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Whitney Houston, David Bowie, Prince, Run D.M.C. and Destiny’s Child.

About the Orleans Arena
The Orleans Arena, a Boyd Gaming facility located just west of the Las Vegas Strip, is one of the nation’s leading multi-purpose sports and entertainment facilities and the 2014 recipient of the Venue Excellence Award from the International Association of Venue Managers. In addition, the Orleans Arena is one of only a handful of arenas in the United States to achieve LEED Gold Certification and is part of the largest company in Nevada to achieve SHARP Certification for commitments to safe venue operations. According to Venues Today magazine, the Orleans Arena, which hosts more than 200 events each year, consistently ranks in the Top 10 for ticket sales in the United States and internationally among venues of similar size. These events include nationally touring concerts, NCAA basketball conference tournaments, family shows, motorsports and other unique events. For more information, call 702-365-7469 or visit www.OrleansArena.com. Stay connected to the Orleans Arena on Facebook (www.facebook.com/orleansarena) and on Twitter (@orleansarena).

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 9th to 15th, 2016 - Update #28

Support Leroy on Patreon.

MOVIES - From TheWrap:  91-year-old veteran actor defends Nate Parker and "Birth of a Nation."  Concerning rape allegatiosn - get over it, he says.

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MOVIES - From YahooMovies:  President Barack Obama lists his all-time favorite science fiction flicks and a few TV show.

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TELEVISION - From TheWrap:  Delroy Lindo joins the cast of "The Good Wife" spinoff series, which will air on CBS All Access - a streaming service.

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ECO - From Time:  Robert Redford - "Climate change affects every issue."

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OBIT - From BleedingCool:  Michiyo Yasuda, an animator, artist, and colorist for anime films, has died at the age of 77.  She worked for Studio Ghibli and worked on such Hayao Miyazaki films as the Oscar-winning "Spirited Away" and "Ponyo."

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  J.K. Rowling's "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" film series will be five film long.

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MOVIES - From ThePlaylist:  Quentin Tarantino is researching the 1970s for his next project, although that project might not be a film...

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MUSIC - From Variety:  Bob Dylan wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.  He is the first American to win the award since Toni Morrison in 1993.

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ECO - From TheGuardian:  Climate change deniers should not hold elective office.

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COMICS - From TheVillageVoice:  "Ms. Marvel Will Save You Now"

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CELEBRITY - From THR:  Mel Gibson is back - hot and bankable.

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OBIT -  From TMZ:  The actor Tommy Ford has died at the age of 52, Wednesday, October 12, 2016.  He was best known for playing "Tommy" on the 1990s Fox television comedy, "Martin" (starring Martin Lawrence).

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ECO - From EcoWatch:  Shailene Woodley and 26 others are arrest protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

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MOVIES - From CinemaBlend:  The original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund, has a really good idea for the next installment of "A Nightmare on Elm Street."

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MUSIC - From YahooCelebrity:  Miley Cyrus is "pansexual."

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COMICS-FILM - From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "Captain Marvel" movie will be an origin story.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  Clint Eastwood has lined up his next film.

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MOVIES - From TheWrap:  "Chronicle" screenwriter Max Landis thinks "Mighty Morphing Power Rangers" looks like Chronicle.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Uber-talented Michelle Williams in talks to star in a Janis Joplin biopic.

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MOVIES - From Variety:  Guy Ritchie is in talks to direct a live-action remake of Walt Disney's "Aladdin."

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficeMojo:  The winner of the 10/7 to 10/9/2016 weekend box office is "The Girl on the Train" with an estimated take of $24.7 million.

From Variety:  "Finding Dory" surpasses $1 billion in worldwide box office.  This is the third Disney film to do so this calendar year, following "Captain America: Civil War" and "Zootopia."

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2016:

From EW:  John Wick goes to NYCC '16 with Keanu Reeves vs. Common sizzle reel.

From ScreenRant:  At NYCC '16, Jeph Loeb talks about the FX and Marvel connections in the two studio's FX television series, "Legion."

From YahooTV:  At NYCC '16, Marvel introduces "The Defenders," who will appear on Netflix at some point.

From FlickeringMyth:  Marvel's animated "Avengers Assemble" became "Avengers: Ultron Revlutions" and will now become "Avengers: Secret Wars."  That is where Haley Atwell will reprise her role as "Peggy Carter" in voice form.

COMICS-FILM - From IGN:  2017 will see a new animated Spider-Man series from Disney, entitled "Marvel's Spider-Man."  The current series, "Ultimate Spider-Man" ends in January.

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TELEVISION - From DemocracyNow:  Rosario Dawson and Norman Lear among stars exploring "America Divided."

TRAILERS:

From YouTube:  Third official "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" trailer.

From TheVerge:  First full trailer for Marvel-Netflix's "Iron Fist" series.

VIZ Media Announces "Pokemon: Master Quest" on DVD

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES HOME MEDIA RELEASE OF POKÉMON: MASTER QUEST – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION ON DVD

Latest POKÉMON Home Media Release Delivers The Complete MASTER QUEST Season On Seven DVDs

San Francisco, CA – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, announces the latest addition to the company’s extensive POKÉMON home media catalog with the release of POKÉMON: MASTER QUEST - THE COMPLETE COLLECTION on DVD.

For the first time, fans will be able to own the complete POKÉMON: MASTER QUEST season in a special 7-disc DVD set. Revisit the adventures of Ash, Pikachu and friends on their adventures across the Johto region and beyond.

POKÉMON: MASTER QUEST – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION MSRP: $54.97 U.S. / $63.99 CAN  Available Now

With the Olivine City Gym temporarily out of commission, our heroes are off to the Whirl Cup Competition—and Misty wants in on the action! Resuming their journey, they find that Jessie, James, and Meowth aren’t the only members of Team Rocket they need to worry about, though that dastardly trio still has a few tricks up their collective sleeve. After a heated battle with the final Gym Leader, Ash moves on to the Silver Conference, but does he have the mettle to take on his old rival, Gary?

POKÉMON: MASTER QUEST – THE COMPLETE COLLECTION features 64 episodes on 7 DVDs.  POKÉMON is one of the most successful international entertainment franchises of all time. More than 275 million POKÉMON video game titles and over 21.5 billion Pokémon Trading Cards have been sold in more than 74 countries in addition to substantial publishing and merchandise sales. VIZ Media is the official North American distributor for a wide variety of POKÉMON home media releases including animated series and films and also publishes a variety of POKÉMON manga graphic novel series including Pokémon Adventures, Pokémon Adventures: FireRed & LeafGreen, Pokémon Adventures: Emerald, Pokémon Adventures: Diamond & Pearl/PLATINUM, Pokémon Adventures: HeartGold & SoulSilver, Pokémon Adventures: Black & White and POKÉMON X•Y.

For additional information on POKÉMON as well as other anime and manga titles distributed and published by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.


About VIZ Media, LLC
Established in 1986, VIZ Media is the premier company in the field of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing. Along with its popular digital magazine WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, DRAGON BALL, SAILOR MOON, and POKÉMON, VIZ Media offers an extensive library of titles and original content in a wide variety of book and video formats, as well as through official licensed merchandise. Owned by three of Japan's largest publishing and entertainment companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media is dedicated to bringing the best titles for English-speaking audiences worldwide.

Learn more about VIZ Media and its properties at www.VIZ.com.

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Amazon Announces Two New Original Kids Series for Prime Video

Amazon Orders Two New Original Kids Series Little Big Awesome and Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, and Greenlights Second Season of The Stinky & Dirty Show, Exclusively for Prime Video

Brand-new children’s series will become available exclusively for Prime members

In addition to streaming or downloading thousands of titles on Prime Video, Amazon Prime members enjoy fast, free shipping, unlimited access to more than a million songs with Prime Music, unlimited secure photo storage with Prime Photos, and more—customers can enjoy a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime today

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: AMZN)—Amazon today announced it has ordered two new Amazon Original Kids Series including Little Big Awesome that combines 2D animation, puppetry, and live-action; and the Emmy Award-winning Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, debuting later this fall and narrated by Golden Globe Award-winning actress Gillian Anderson (The X-Files). An additional 26 episodes of the hit preschool series The Stinky & Dirty Show have also been greenlit. All three series will debut on Prime Video in the US, UK, Germany, Austria and Japan. Amazon’s new children’s series come from talented creators including Ben Gruber (Spongebob Squarepants, Super Jail) and Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle). The Stinky & Dirty Show, which debuted last month, is rated 4.8 stars by customers with 87% 5-star reviews and available to stream and download today.

    “We are truly honored to be working with a team of exceptionally talented creators”

“We are truly honored to be working with a team of exceptionally talented creators,” said Tara Sorensen, Head of Kids Programming at Amazon Studios. “From the unique style of Little Big Awesome to the adaptation of beloved book series Ronja the Robber’s Daughter, we aim to bring a new level of storytelling to our customers and their families.”

Amazon Original Kids Series are available for Prime members to stream and enjoy using the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices including Amazon Fire TV, and mobile devices, or online at www.amazon.com/originals, at no additional cost to their membership—Prime members can also download titles to mobile devices for offline viewing. Customers who are not already Prime members can sign up for a free trial at www.amazon.com/prime. For a list of all Amazon Video compatible devices, visit www.amazon.com/howtostream.

Little Big Awesome is a comedy for kids ages 6 to 11 that combines 2D animation, puppetry, and real live action footage as we explore the whimsically weird world of Ballopolis. The series follows Gluko, a jelly giant, and Lennon, a small kid-like creature with a fuzzy hat, who are inseparable buddies. They adventure through a universe where sea turtles fly, flowers talk, and tear drops splash around on a hot summer day. Gluko and Lennon’s desire to help those around them can, at times, lead them to epically outlandish places, but at the end of the day, the series is about two best buds making their own fun and enjoying the wonderfully strange world around them. The series is created by Tomas Dieguez (TRONCO), executive produced by Ben Gruber (Spongebob Squarepants and Super Jail), and animated by Emmy award-winning studio Titmouse (Randy Cunningham, Metalocalypse). Dieguez, Diego Sebastian Rosner (Underdogs), Agustin Alberdi, Andrés Ernesto Fogwill and Ignacio Orive are co-executive producers.

The Emmy Award-winning Ronja The Robber’s Daughter is an adaptation of the wildly popular children's fantasy book of the same name by noted Swedish author Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking). The series is directed by Gorō Miyazaki and presented by the Academy Award-winning Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle) and Saltkrakan (the Astrid Lindgren Company). Ronja The Robber’s Daughter is narrated by Golden Globe Award-winning actress Gillian Anderson (The X-Files); an epic 26-part animated story of a strong, adventurous young girl who grows up exploring a beautiful and dangerous forest filled with mythical creatures. The daughter of a professional robber, Ronja realizes the complicated nature of her father’s profession when she befriends Birk, the child of a rival tribe. Ronja struggles to balance the relationship with her family and the bond with her self-proclaimed brother Birk as she comes to understand the intricate issues of family and friendship and how differences can be overcome with the help of love and understanding.

Based on the “I Stink!” book series by Kate and Jim McMullan, The Stinky & Dirty Show follows the adventures and mishaps faced by best friends and unlikely heroes, Stinky the garbage truck and Dirty, the backhoe loader. The series is written and developed by Guy Toubes (The Adventures of Chuck & Friends, Littlest Pet Shop, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi) and animated by Brown Bag Films, Ltd (Peter Rabbit, Octonauts, Doc McStuffins). Season one of The Stinky & Dirty Show features original music from acclaimed folk singer and songwriter Dan Bern and celebrity voice talent, including Whoopi Goldberg (The View), Jane Lynch (Glee), Andy Richter (Arrested Development), Joan Cusack (Shameless) and Wallace Shawn (Toy Story). The newest original preschool series to foster lifelong creative learning, the series’ curriculum was developed by Dr. Alice Wilder and Jessica Lahey, author of the New York Times best-seller The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed, on which the curriculum is based.


About Amazon Video
Amazon Video is a premium on-demand entertainment service that offers customers the greatest choice in what to watch, and how to watch it. Amazon Video is the only service that provides all of the following:

•     Prime Video: Thousands of movies and TV shows, including popular licensed content plus critically-acclaimed and award-winning Amazon Original Series and Movies from Amazon Studios like Transparent, The Man in the High Castle, Chi Raq and kids series Tumble Leaf, available for unlimited streaming as part of an Amazon Prime membership
•     Add-on Subscriptions: Dozens of subscriptions to networks like SHOWTIME, STARZ and more, available to Amazon Prime members as add-ons to their membership
•     Rent or Own: Hundreds of thousands of titles, including new-release movies and current TV shows available for on-demand rental or purchase for all Amazon customers
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Big Shark Movie, "Meg," Begins Shooting in New Zealand

Shooting Begins on Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Gravity Pictures’ Sci-Fi Film “Meg”

Jason Statham and Li Bingbing star under the direction of Jon Turteltaub

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Principal photography is underway in New Zealand on the science fiction action thriller “Meg,” being directed by Jon Turteltaub (the “National Treasure” movies, “Last Vegas”). The film stars Jason Statham (“Spy,” “Furious 7,” “The Expendables” films). Award-winning Chinese actress Li Bingbing (“Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Forbidden Kingdom,” “The Message”) has been set to star opposite Statham.

A deep-sea submersible—part of an international undersea observation program—has been attacked by a massive creature, previously thought to be extinct, and now lies disabled at the bottom of the deepest trench in the Pacific…with its crew trapped inside. With time running out, expert deep sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor (Statham) is recruited by a visionary Chinese oceanographer (Winston Chao), against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing), to save the crew—and the ocean itself—from this unstoppable threat: a pre-historic 75-foot-long shark known as the Megalodon. What no one could have imagined is that, years before, Taylor had encountered this same terrifying creature. Now, teamed with Suyin, he must confront his fears and risk his own life to save everyone trapped below…bringing him face to face once more with the greatest and largest predator of all time.

Rounding out the international main cast of “Meg” are New Zealander Cliff Curtis (“The Dark Horse,” “Risen,” TV’s “Fear the Walking Dead”), Rainn Wilson (TV’s “The Office,” “Super”), Ruby Rose (“xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” TV’s “Orange is the New Black”), Winston Chao (“Skiptrace,” “Kabali”), Page Kennedy (TV’s “Rush Hour”), Jessica McNamee (“The Vow,” TV’s “Sirens”), Ólafur Darri Ólafsson (“The BFG,” TV’s “The Missing”), Robert Taylor (“Focus,” TV’s “Longmire”), Sophia Shuya Cai (“Somewhere Only We Know”), and Masi Oka (TV’s “Hawaii Five-0,” “Heroes”).

Turteltaub is directing the film from a screenplay by Dean Georgaris and Jon Hoeber & Erich Hoeber, based on the New York Times best-selling book by Steve Alten. Lorenzo di Bonaventura (the “Transformers” films), Belle Avery (“Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead”) and Colin Wilson (“Suicide Squad,” “Avatar”) are producing the film, with Wayne Wei Jiang, Randy Greenberg, Barrie M. Osborne and Gerald R. Molen serving as executive producers.

Turteltaub’s behind-the-scenes team includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Tom Stern (“Changeling,” “Sully,” “American Sniper,” “The Hunger Games”), Oscar-winning production designer Grant Major (“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “X-Men- Apocalypse”), editor Steven Kemper (“Salt,” “Mission: Impossible II,” “Face/Off”) and costume designer Amanda Neale (“Truth,” “Pete’s Dragon,” “What We Do in the Shadows”).

In addition to New Zealand, filming on “Meg” is also being accomplished on location in China.

“Meg” is a presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Gravity Pictures. It is production of di Bonaventura Pictures, Apelles Entertainment, Maeday Productions, Inc., and Flagship Entertainment, in association with Beijing Digital Impression (BDI) Film, Inc.

“Meg” will be distributed in China by Gravity Pictures during Chinese New Year 2018, and throughout the rest of the world by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Entertainment Company, slated for release on March 2, 2018.

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